Winter Surprise

DooDahDay · 11-04-2021, 04:15 PM

Winter snuck up on me somehow. Getting down to 30 tonight and have not winterized. I plan to run the furnace on 55 deg. (am on shore power) tonight until I have a chance to grab some juice and winterize the system tomorrow.
But - I am not sure that running the furnace overnight "unattended" is a good idea. Anyone have experience doing this.
Concerns?
Should I just go ahead and winterize in the dark tonight?
As always - I appreciate this forum and the shared experiences.

23 RB with Thermal Package

Mark

ctardi · 11-04-2021, 04:22 PM

It's no worse than running the furnace while you're sound asleep inside.

DooDahDay · 11-04-2021, 04:27 PM

It's no worse than running the furnace while you're sound asleep inside.

I considered that after writing! In fact if anything did go wrong, probably better off inside the house than inside the trailer. But then if inside the trailer, I might be aware of issues...funky smells...odd sounds, etc.
Thanks!
Paranoia sets in.

RogerR · 11-04-2021, 04:46 PM

If your hose is attached be sure to pull it off and let it drain at the house so house won't freeze or rv inlet port. If you have the pressure off and you have a outdoor shower at least let it drain as best you can.

DooDahDay · 11-04-2021, 05:21 PM

If your hose is attached be sure to pull it off and let it drain at the house so house won't freeze or rv inlet port. If you have the pressure off and you have a outdoor shower at least let it drain as best you can.

Excellent - Many thanks!

dxrobertson · 11-04-2021, 06:11 PM

30 degrees overnight is not a hard freeze. Would follow @RogerR advise as well as open low point drains, along with all faucets for "in pipe" expansion. All should be well until you can properly winterize tomorrow.

Grumpy · 11-04-2021, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxrobertson

30 degrees overnight is not a hard freeze. Would follow @RogerR advise as well as open low point drains, along with all faucets for "in pipe" expansion. All should be well until you can properly winterize tomorrow.

X-2

GHen · 11-04-2021, 10:37 PM

X2, I don’t worry much anytime day time temps are above freezing.

Now a high of 25 for 3 days in a row is a problem.

TWP723 · 11-05-2021, 05:24 AM

It needs to freeze solid before it causes problems. Slush won't damage lines or faucets as most with AF in them are slushy anyway. Like others mentioned, it's not a hard freeze yet. My opinion is you should be ok. I haven't done mine either and I'm on the East coast and woke this morning to 30 degrees. Leave your low point drains open and drain your HWH and you should be safe until this weekend. But get it done soon.

DooDahDay · 11-05-2021, 10:11 AM

Thanks to everyone. All of this advice is logical and helpful and the result of experience. Wouldn't it be nice if our nation acted like the folks on this forum. Respectful, willing to take time out of our own lives to be helpful to others - strangers...an honest interest in other people's well-being. You folks are just decent people - we're all better off for this forum.
Heading out to buy the agent orange and get this done.

Mark

Jagiven · 11-05-2021, 10:13 AM

Most years, I am in this boat, but it usually is getting down to the lower 20's! 30 degrees for an overnight low is no big deal, as long as it is above freezing for most of the day. The TT has a lot of thermal mass, so it will cool off slower than the outside air, so it may never get below freezing inside.

When at home, at minimum, I try to open the low point drains and let the water flow out of the pipes and tanks. If I have time, I connect the air compressor and give it a good blast or two of air. So far I have never felt I had to winterize before my last trip of the season.

This is the first year I can think of that I purchased antifreeze super early (like July 5th). We still have not seen frost yet. Typical first frost here is mid-September. I might have to make a habit of buying my antifreeze in July.

Good Luck

GHen · 11-05-2021, 10:29 AM

You’re right there, I should go buy some ice melt, that will assure a warm winter and I won’t need it.

Jagiven · 11-05-2021, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GHen

You’re right there, I should go buy some ice melt, that will assure a warm winter and I won’t need it.

I like your thinking, I will be getting it this weekend. Should buy a few extra bags too

curver900 · 11-05-2021, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DooDahDay

Winter snuck up on me somehow. Getting down to 30 tonight and have not winterized. I plan to run the furnace on 55 deg. (am on shore power) tonight until I have a chance to grab some juice and winterize the system tomorrow.
But - I am not sure that running the furnace overnight "unattended" is a good idea. Anyone have experience doing this.
Concerns?
Should I just go ahead and winterize in the dark tonight?
As always - I appreciate this forum and the shared experiences.

23 RB with Thermal Package

Mark

unless it is going to be below 30 for 20 hours you don't have to do anything... winterize in the morning...

kwalsh · 11-05-2021, 11:00 AM

i wouldnt worry about it dipping down to 30 overnight if the daytime comes back up, it would never freeze that fast, my camper is not winterized yet and it hit 30 the last two nights but was in the 50's during the day

i am camping this weekend and will be running the heater and then winterizing and storing next week

TWP723 · 11-05-2021, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagiven

I like your thinking, I will be getting it this weekend. Should buy a few extra bags too

I've had a brand new snow blower for 5 years now. Hasn't snowed enough to use it.

I'm waaaaaayyyyyyyy ahead of ya!

ryan2l · 11-05-2021, 11:15 AM

This thread makes me feel better. We are caping this weekend for the first trip in the new trailer and its now saying 30*F at night. I was getting worried before but sounds like we will be fine with it being 50*F during the day.

DooDahDay · 11-05-2021, 11:45 AM

This thread makes me feel better. We are caping this weekend for the first trip in the new trailer and its now saying 30*F at night. I was getting worried before but sounds like we will be fine with it being 50*F during the day.

I hope you have a great time. One of the very first things I learned on this forum...and is still one of the most important things today, is to take a notepad with you. Keep it handy in the camper. Every time you say - Cr@p I wish I had <insert gadget/tool/etc>, write it down in the notepad. Get back home, go directly to the store (or internet) and shop for your cr@p list.

pconroy · 11-05-2021, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxrobertson

30 degrees overnight is not a hard freeze. Would follow @RogerR advise as well as open low point drains, along with all faucets for "in pipe" expansion. All should be well until you can properly winterize tomorrow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

X-2

x-3.

We've survived 30 plenty of times. Sure, leave the furnace on as we have - unattended. Or toss in a nice electric space heater.

I've posted that I don't really get concerned until we have sustained temps in the mid 20's.

Kim Gass · 11-05-2021, 02:41 PM

We went South last Feb and it was warm about a week. Of course we had dewinterized in Georgia.
Then we got to Texas and went to San Antonio where it promptly went below freezing. And then to Big Bend where the high was 22. for two days. We did not re winterize but of course were dry camping. We drained the fresh water tanks and pulled out the 6 gal water container and used the campground bathroom ( which was flushing but not good at water supply)

Before activating anything water related we just waited for the temp to get above 32 for most of the day.

It is starting to stay about 40 daytime with lows at 20 here at home now. We got some antifreeze today.. Snow is showing up on radar in the mountains.

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